Return-pipe for steam-circuits



(No Model.)

W. BURNHAM.

RETURN PIPE FOR STEAM CIRCUITS. No. 394,823. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

IVALTER BIIRNHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RETURN-PIPE FOR STEAM-CIRCUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 394,823, dated Dezemaer 18, 1888.

Serial No. 264,807- (No model.)

1b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER BURNHAM, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use- :ful Improvements in Return-Pipes for Steam- Circuits; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in systems of pipe-connections of steam-generators in which it is the purpose to abstract water of comlensation and entrainment from a steam-pipe, and to take the water so withdrawn through an adj unctive pipe by a flow of steam in the latter, which steam-flow is forced by an excess of pressure in the steampipe over that in the adjunctive pipe at a point remote from its connection with the steam-pipe. (ommonly the adjunctive pipe will be employed to lift the water and to return it to the generator, and the system herein illustrated shows this pipe terminating in the generator for that purpose, and the adjunctive pipe will be herein generally called the return-pipe.

The object of the present invention is to provide for a more perfect control of the water movement in the return-pipe when required.

To this end it consists, first, in the provision of a plurality of return-pipes in connection with a single steam-pipe; secondly, in the insertion of a valve in each of the plural return-pipes near its junction with the steampipe; and, thirdly, in the addition of a branch pipe leading from the steam-space of the steam-pipe into a return-pipe beyond the regulating-valve therein, if one be present.

These improvements are in a sense cumulative; but they may be used separately or together, according to the requirements of particular situations.

In the drawing, which presents a diagrammatic view of apparatus containing my improvements in connection with a generator, (shown in transverse section,) A represents a steam-generator, B a steam-pipe leading therefrom, and C a return-pipe leading from the steam-pipe to a point above the water-line of the generator, thence downward into the generator, and in this instance terminating in the water-space thereof. These elements mentioned constitute the system of steam-pipe connections described in certain applications for patent filed by \Villiam Irving, February 7,1888, Serial Nos. 263,224 and 263,925.

L represents a separator connected in the steam-pipe I), as also set forth" in one of said Irving applications.

B is a prolongation of. the steam-pipe leading to an engine or other steam-using device.

As fully described in the said applications of Irving, in a system comprising a genera tor, a steam-pipe and a return-pipe having a drainage-connection with the generator, the return-pipe operates to return the water of condensation and of entrainment in the steam-pipe to the generator. This is accomplished by condensation in or escape from theietarii-pipe at a point contiguous to the water standing in the leg thereof, which gives at such point a less pressure than that of the steam-pipe, from which difference in pressure results a forcible flow of steam in the return-pipe from the steam-pipe toward the generator. The steam in its rapid movement from the steam-pipe through the returnpipe carries the water in detached masses with and before it and delivers itinto the descending leg of said return-pipe, where it joins the water column therein and ultimately settles into the body of water in the generator.

In the case of a return-pipe connected with a steam-pipe at a point below the water-level in the generator, as shown in the drawing, if water is supplied to or is allowed to accumulate in the lower part of the return-pipe faster than it can be lifted by the steam-flow, or if allowed to accumulate so as to cut off the steam-flow, then the water in the generator will rise through the leg of the return-pipe and flow outwardly from the generator to the steam-pipe, and thus defeat the operation sought to be obtained. To avoid this result provision must be made for a constant steamflow from the steam-pipe to the low-pressure chamber in the return-pipe. Now the extent to which the pressure in the lowpressure space in the return-pipe may be reduced be low that-of the steam-pipe is restricted by the available space for the water-leg of the return-pipe, since the height of the water column will depend upon the ditterence between the pressure in the generator and that in the lowpressure space in the return-pipe above the water column. It follows that in many situa tions at single return-pipe cannot be made to return (in the nccessarily-broken form. or in detached masses) all the water which the steam-pipe delivers thereto, and I therefore provide a plurality of return-pipes, each having only such a reduction of pressure in its low-pressure chamber as is allowable by the vertical space for the water-leg, and each able therefore to carry up a portion only of the water to be taken from the steam-pipe, but together able to litft it all. By thus using a plurality of return-pipes, each having a short water column in its descending leg, a large quantity of water may be taken from the steampipe in those situations where there is not room for a single ieturn-pi iie with the higher water column that would be necessary.

To obtain an equable division of water between two or more return-pipes, (1, they should be so connected with the steam-pipe l) or with the separator L as to take theret'rom quantities correctly proportioned to their respective powers. A certain limitation of steam and water supply to each of the pipes C will be insured by providin each ot-them with a valve, C, close to its receiving end, which valve may regulate the size of the inlet to said pipe. In order to use this inlet for the admission of water only, a separate steampipe, D, is shown having an upper open end in the steam-space of the separator and extending to a connection with the pipe (below or beyond the valve (1. Such a pipewill supply steam to the pipe 0 independently of the wate1'iinlet to said pipe. To control the amount of steam admitted to the pipe (7 through the pipe I), the latter is shown provided with a valve, D.

Though the returl'l-pipe is shown as connected with a steamape at a point below the water-level oi? the generator, it is to be understood that the invention applies as well to those return-pipes which rise from a point at or above the waterdevel of the generator. Indeed, italso applies to returns which do not rise at all, but in which reduced-pressure chambers are to be established [or the purpose of stimulating active circulation with a view to obtaining hotter and dryer steam from the steam-pipe for an engine or other steam-using device, as set forth in one of said applications for patent filed by \Villiam l'rving.

In other applieat ions for patent filed by me I point out that the pipe t, here called. the return-pipe, may terminate elsewhere than in the waterspace of the generator, and even externally to the generator, being u-ovided with an upturned end or rising portion followin g a descent and eontainin g a water column in one form or another adapted to hold its place against opposing pressures, while permitting discharge of water at its end remote from the steam-pipe. The present im provements are to be understood as also applying to those and similar cases. It is also to be understood that the water to be carried by the return-pipe may be derived in part from other sources than the steam-pi w.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a steam-generator and a steamape leadingtherefrom, oi? a plurality of return or discharge pipes eonnected with the steam-pipe, each containing a water colunm remote from the steam-pipe, and a space adjacent to the water column having steam communieatiml with the steampipe and subject to lower pressure than the steam-pipe, substai\tially as described.

2'. The combination, with a steam-generator and a steam-pipe leadingtherefronnof a plurality of return or discharge pipes eon nected with the stean1-pi )e, each provided with a regulating-valve and each containing a water column remote from the steam-pipe, and a steam-space eonnnnnicating through the valve with the stezun-pipe and subject to lower pressure than the steannpipe, substantially as described.

23. The cmnbinatimi, with a stezun-generator and a steam-pipe leadingtherefrom, oi a discharge or return pipe having drainage-connectitmvwith the steam-pipe, and a pipe leading from the steznn-space ot' the steam-pipe into said discharge or return pipe, substantially as described.

4. The combinatimi, with a steam-generator and a steam-pipe leading therefrom, ot' a discharge or return pipe having a drainageconneetion with the steam-pipe and provided with a valve, and a pipe leading from the steam-space of the steam-pipe into the discharge-pipe beyond the valve in the latter.

The combination, with asteam-generator and a steam-phwleading therefrom, of a discln'irge-pipe having drainage-connection with the steam-pipe and provided with a valve, and a valved pipe leading from the steannspaee ot' the steam-pipe into the dis charge-pipe beyond the valve therein.

o. The combination, with a steam-pipeleading from a generator, of a separator, a diseharge-pipe leading from the water-space ol' the separator, and a pipe leading from the steam-space ol the separator into the dis- 'cln'u'ge-pipe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I al'lix my signature in piesence of two witnesses.

"ALTER l-EURNIIAM.

\" itnesses:

M. E. Barron, TAYLOR E. BROWN. 

